Water Conservation

Our Partnership With MTSU 

We can all do our part conserving the world’s most precious commodity, drinking water. In partnership with Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) the Murfreesboro Stormwater Program have been promoting water conservation. Each year rain barrel building and benefit workshops are held. During Earth day 2015, water was the theme. To compliment this theme, the Murfreesboro Waste Water team participated by educating the community on what should and should not be put in the toilet. MTSU storm water team and our industrial pretreatment team give away rain barrels. Rain barrels are easy to assemble. They offer conservation benefits and:

• Saves money by using captured rain roof fun off instead of using faucet water to water outside plants and the yard.
• Helps control moisture levels around homes foundations reducing underground flooding.
• Reduces erosion and rain runoff.
• Water can be used to wash pets, vehicles, windows and more.

Tree Day

For almost a decade, the stormwater program has also given out tree seedlings at its annual Tree Day event. Tree Day is an event where residents living along streams in a selected watershed are encouraged to pick up trees for planting along the stream banks. In addition to tree seedlings, all resident living along these streams receive information on how to establish streamside buffers and the benefits of streamside buffers.

Water Conservation Tips & Resources

At The Kitchen Sink

• If you have a double-basin sink, fill one side with soapy water and the other with rinse water. If you have a single-basin sink, gather washed dishes in a dish rack and rinse them with a spray device or a pan full of hot water. If using a dish washer, there is usually no need to waste water by pre-rinse the dishes.
• When considering the amount of water wasted when using a garbage disposal you might consider composting your left over food on your plate instead of putting it down the drain.

In The Bathroom

• To reduce the amount of water lost you might consider installing aerators on all household faucets. This is an inexpensive tool that is easy to install. While shaving or brushing your teeth turn on the water only when needed. Take shorter showers as another way to reduce the amount of water you use. Consider soaping up, then turn the water back on to rinse. To prevent wasting water when taking a bath be sure to plug the drain right away and adjust the temperature as you fill the tub.
• A running toilet leak can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day. Slow faucet and shower leaks with a drop a second can waste up to 8.2 gallons of water per day. Fix water leaks quickly to conserve water and save money on your monthly water bill.

Outdoors

• When using a hose, control the flow with an automatic shut off nozzle. When washing your windows or car, between cleaning turn off the water hose to conserve water. If you have a pool, when it is not in use, consider covering it to reduce evaporation.